It impelled him now to befriend Bland Halliday.
"Well, since the cat's come back, I suppose it must have its saucer of milk," he grinned, by way of hiding the fact that the lip-quiver had touched him.

"I haven't taken any nourishment myself for quite some time.

Come on and eat." He started back toward town, and Bland Halliday followed him like a lonesome pup.
On the way, Johnny took stock of Bland in little quick glances from the corner of his eyes.

Bland had been shabby when Johnny discovered him one day on the depot platform of a tiny town farther down the line.

He had been shabbier after three weeks in Johnny's camp, working on the airplane in hope of a free trip to the Coast.